- Date
- April 6, 1991, 12:20 local (17:20 UTC)
- Place
- Wurtsboro, NY
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N3620DSchweizer SGS-1-30
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 8, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910406009239A
- Case key
- 36900
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
An inflight failure of the left wing spar due to overload from pilot induced control inputs, while recovering from a dive. Factors related to the accident were, the pilot's decision to fly with the trim system disconnected and lack of recent experience in make and model of glider.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The glider was observed in a steep nose down pitch attitude. Just above the terrain, the nose pitched up and the left wing failed at the wing root. The glider struck trees, descending to the ground. Post crash examination showed the wing had failed in overload. According to the manufacturer, the wing had an ultimate failure load of 9.72G. Examination of the glider showed tape on the trim disconnect system and control stick. This is a technique used by competition pilots to reduce the control forces. There is a flight manual limitation against operating with speeds in excess of 108 mph with the trim disconnected. Flight testing by the manufacturer showed the glider had 'near to neutral stability' with the trim disconnected.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3620D
- Reported as
- Schweizer SGS-1-30
- Category
- Glider
- Serial number
- 20
- Airframe hours
- 1,240
- Engine
- unknown
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Wurtsboro Flight Service, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Wurtsboro Flight Service, Inc.
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · February 20, 1991 · 26 hours before
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 41
- Certificate
- Private
- Seat
- Center
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 52 total · 5 in this make and model · 21 as pilot in command · 1 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.